Introducing, The World of Cross Stitching's A Year of Joy SAL! You're sure to enjoy this hoop shaped cross stitch design featuring a sweet seasonal motif each month, designed by Durene Jones. You'll find pretty pansies, buzzing bees, summer cocktails, autumn pumpkins and a jolly snowman among lots of other fun and colourful motifs.
Stitch up each part throughout the year along with each month’s name on plastic canvas, which you can swap into the centre of the hoop as the year progresses.
We know how much cross stitchers love a stitch-a-long (SAL) – it's a great way to stay motivated with a large pattern and watch your progress grow along with fellow stitchers, making it a great community project.
Download the pattern for the A Year of Joy outline border below, then find each month's part of the SAL pattern in The World of Cross Stitching magazine, in issues 354 (January 2025) - 365 (December 2025).
Catch up with a copy you may have missed by ordering online whilst stocks last or download a digital issue, or explore our latest subscription offers to make sure you don't miss an issue throughout the year!
Guide to stitching your A Year of Joy SAL
• The key and shopping list includes the thread colours, extra skeins and materials you’ll need to stitch the whole SAL. We recommend gathering everything you need before you start, so you can get to work straight away as each part comes out.
• To start stitching your SAL border, first find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half and half again. The point where the folds cross is where your central stitch of the border design should go.
• Once you’ve finished the border, it’s easy to fill in each month’s SAL design in the spaces provided, using the patterns included in The World of Cross Stitching magazine issues 354-365. You should work around the border in a clockwise direction, using our photo as a guide.
• Stitch each corresponding month name on plastic canvas and cut out with a one square border – be careful not to snip into any holes containing stitches. Find out more about stitching on plastic canvas.
• Cut self-adhesive magnetic strips to size and stick on the reverse side of the plastic canvas month names.
• At the end of the SAL, back your completed piece with iron-on interfacing and mount in an 11in display frame or hoop.
• Position the opposing magnetic strips on the reverse of the fabric to attach the month names in the middle of your completed hoop display – you can easily swap each month as the seasons go by.
Download the A Year of Joy border pattern
Don't worry if you missed the border design in The World of Cross Stitching issue 353 (Special 2024) – download a copy of the pattern here.
Simply follow the instructions above for completing your SAL, and don't forget to find each exciting part in issues 354-365 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine. Subscribe today so you don't miss a part and get your copy delivered direct to your door – check out our latest offers and sign up today with a print or digital subscription.
Share your SAL progress
We can’t wait to see your works, so share your WIPs and progress photos with us on The World of Cross Stitching social channels on Facebook and Instagram. Remember to give us a follow to see exciting stitchy updates, new projects, tutorials, issue details and more!
Using a hoop for cross stitch
Once you've finished your SAL design, check out our handy guide for mounting your completed cross stitch in a hoop tutorial or find out more about stitching in an embroidery hoop too. This helps to ensure even tension as you stitch for a neater result.
